Published:
February 18, 2026
•
8
min read
•
By
Patrick Coughlin
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Cash App scams arrive through multiple channels. Text messages (SMS) are the most common, followed by social media direct messages on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook. Email phishing is also widespread, and some scammers create fake in-app notifications by sending Cash App payment requests with scam messages embedded in the memo field. Every scam message aims to get you to click a link, call a number, share your credentials, or send money.
"Cash App Alert: Your account has been suspended due to suspicious activity. Verify your identity to restore access: [link]. Failure to verify within 24 hours will result in permanent account closure."
What the scammer wants: Your Cash App login credentials. The link leads to a fake login page that captures everything you type. Cash App does not suspend accounts via text message. The link goes to a domain that is not cash.app. Real Cash App texts never include links to resolve account issues.
"Cash App: A payment of $347.00 was sent to @MichaelR from your account. If you did not authorize this, call 1-888-XXX-XXXX immediately to cancel."
What the scammer wants: When you call, they impersonate Cash App support and ask for your PIN or credentials to "reverse" the payment. No payment was actually sent. Cash App's only official support number is 1-800-969-1940. Any other number is fake. Open the app and check your activity. If no payment appears, the text is fake.
First, you receive a legitimate verification code from Cash App (triggered by someone trying to log in to your account). Then a second text arrives: "Cash App Security: We detected an unauthorized login attempt. To secure your account, please confirm the verification code sent to your phone. Reply with your code."
What the scammer wants: The verification code. With this code, they can complete the login and take over your account. Cash App will never text you from a separate number asking for a verification code. These codes should only be entered by you in the Cash App - never shared with anyone.
"Congratulations! You've been selected for a $750 Cash App reward. Claim your funds now: [link]. Offer expires in 48 hours."
What the scammer wants: Your personal information or to route you through a reward platform that collects data and credit card details for paid sign-ups. Cash App does not select random users for rewards via text or social media. The link leads to a phishing site. "Offer expires" language creates false urgency.
"Cash App Support: We noticed an issue with your recent transaction. Contact our support team at 1-800-XXX-XXXX or visit [link] for immediate assistance."
What the scammer wants: To get you on the phone or on a fake website to extract your credentials. Cash App has only one official support number: 1-800-969-1940. Any other number is fake. Cash App support is also available through the app or cash.app/help. A real Cash App representative will never ask for your password, PIN, or full debit card number.
"Hey! I have a method that turns $100 into $1,000 on Cash App. It's a glitch that only works for a limited time. Send me $100 and I'll flip it for you."
What the scammer wants: Your money, sent directly to their account. There is no glitch, no method, and no return payment. Anyone asking you to send money to receive more money back is running a scam. Some scammers send a small amount back first to build trust before asking for a larger amount.
Someone sends you a screenshot appearing to show a Cash App payment to your account, then claims you owe them something in return or must send a refund of the overpayment. The screenshot is fabricated. No actual payment was made. Screenshots can be created or edited in minutes. The only way to verify a Cash App payment is to open the app and check your activity and balance.
"Cash App: You're eligible for a free upgrade to the new Cash Card with enhanced rewards. Activate your new card now: [link]. Limited availability."
What the scammer wants: Your personal information including your full name, address, Social Security number, and credentials collected through a fake sign-up form. Cash Card upgrades are handled within the Cash App - not through text links. Cash App will never ask for your Social Security number via text.
Subject: "Your Cash App account requires immediate attention." The email claims unusual activity was detected and includes a button to verify your identity within 48 hours or face account restriction. Real Cash App emails come only from @cash.app or @square.com. Scam emails use similar-looking domains. Check that the button URL goes to cash.app before clicking anything.
"Hi! I'm looking for someone to spoil. I'll send you $500 a week on Cash App just for chatting with me. But first, I need you to send $25 for the transfer fee."
What the scammer wants: The upfront fee. There is no $500 weekly payment. Cash App does not have transfer fees that require prepayment. Strangers do not send large amounts of money for conversation.
Real Cash App texts never include links. Cash App has only one official support number: 1-800-969-1940. Any message providing a different phone number is fake. Deadlines like "within 24 hours" or "immediately" prevent you from verifying independently. Cash App will never ask for your PIN, password, verification code, or bank details via text, email, or social media. No legitimate Cash App process requires you to send money as a prerequisite for receiving money.
Do not click links, call phone numbers in the message, or reply. Open Cash App directly from your home screen and check your activity. Forward scam texts to 7726 (SPAM). Block the sender and delete the message. If you already interacted with a scam, change your Cash App PIN and password immediately, check your activity for unauthorized transactions, and contact Cash App support through the app or by calling 1-800-969-1940. File reports with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and the FBI at ic3.gov.
Received a message that might be a Cash App scam? Paste it into Scamwise for a free, instant analysis. Scamwise compares the message against confirmed Cash App scam formats and tells you whether it matches known fraud patterns - before you click anything you should not.
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Patrick Coughlin
Patrick Coughlin is a cybersecurity and technology expert with over two decades of hands-on experience at the intersection of technology, intelligence, and security. He has built teams, products and companies to protect governments and Fortune 500 enterprises from the most sophisticated cyber threats. When his mother was targeted with an AI-powered impersonation scam, the threat became personal. Soon after, Patrick, along with his brother Ryan, founded Savi Security to help protect individuals and families from scams and fraud in the AI era. Patrick lives in Los Angeles with his wife, son and dog.
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